People of Peace

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” - Colossians 3:15

As members of Christ’s Body, we are called to peace – peace with God and peace with one another. God never intends for His children to live the Christian life alone. In fact, we need one another – and all the more so as the end draws near. Listen to how Paul described the decline of morality that we are living in: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Sound familiar?

The Church is intended to be a refuge from the world – a family where God’s people come together and worship His Name, dive into His Word, and love and encourage one another as we follow Him. Notice the word “let” in Colossians 3:15. The understood subject of this verse is “you,” the Saints in Christ Jesus. “You” must “let” God’s peace rule your heart. As believers, God’s peace is always present in our hearts and available to us. But do we always give it our permission to act?

We are commanded to let Christ’s peace rule. The Greek word from which “rule” was translated means, “to govern or arbitrate.” It is also the word from which “umpire” comes. It is a sports term that paints a powerful word picture. The phrase has been translated elsewhere as, “Let the peace of God act as umpire in your heart.” Just as every sport has disputes that must be settled by the officials of that game, the peace of God is the umpire that settles all disputes as to what God’s will is for our lives. We must learn to listen and obey the peace of God in our hearts. Only then will there be complete unity and peace within His Body.

Father, Please show me today how to let Your peace rule in my heart. May I be a peacemaker within Your Body at all times. 

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.